Connecting a Brother printer to WiFi sounds simple, but in practice, you might encounter a variety of issues that and cause the connection to fail. These issues can disrupt your workflow and delay critical printing tasks. In this blog, we'll list common reasons why Brother printers do not connect to WiFi. We'll then provide detailed solutions to help you resolve these issues.
1. The Wi-Fi Signal Is too Weak
Problem: The printer is too far from the router, or there's a thick wall or metal object in between, preventing the signal from reaching it.
Solution:
Move the printer closer to the router and try connecting again. If successful, move it back. If the signal doesn't work after moving it back, consider adding a Wi-Fi signal booster.
If the above measures do not work, you may need to restart the signal. Turn off your router and printer, wait for at least 30 seconds, then turn on the router (wait until it's fully booted up and all lights are on), then turn on the printer.
2. Incorrect password
Problem: You entered the wrong password when connecting to Wi-Fi.
Solution:
Enter the correct Wi-Fi password on the printer screen or your computer, paying special attention to uppercase and lowercase letters and special symbols. If you are entering a password while installing the driver on your computer, check "Show Password" or "Show Characters" to ensure you entered it correctly.
3. The Router Hides the Wi-Fi Name (SSID Is Hidden)
Problem: The router is set to "stealth mode," meaning the Wi-Fi name is not publicly displayed. Therefore, the printer cannot find the network entry.
Solution:
1. Manually enter the Wi-Fi name: Select "Manually add a network" in the printer's network settings. Then enter the Wi-Fi name and password accurately.
2. Turn off stealth mode: Enter the router settings by typing 192.168.1.1 in a browser or by looking for the address on the bottom of the router. Then, turn off the "Hide SSID" option.
4. The Router has Device Access Restrictions Set
Problem: The router has MAC address filtering enabled. It’s similar to an "allowed access list," and the printer is not on the list.
Solution:
1. Disable filtering: Log in to the router settings. Then find "MAC Address Filtering." Turn it off and try connecting again.
2. Permanently allow the printer: Find the printer's MAC address, typically on a label or network report, in a format like AB:12:CD:34:EF. Then, add the printer's MAC address to the "allowed access list" in the router settings.
5. Incompatible Wi-Fi Bands
Problem: Nowadays, many home routers default to 5GHz networks, or even merge both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands under a single network name.
As a result, the printer either can’t detect the network or fails to connect properly — just like an old TV that can’t receive HD signals, the “channel” simply doesn’t match.
Solution:
1. Connect to a 2.4GHz network: Make sure the printer is connected to a Wi-Fi network without the "5G" suffix (e.g., Home WiFi, not Home WiFi_5G).
2. Split the dual-band signal: If your router has dual-band support, log in to the router settings, turn off "Dual Band Support," and then name the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands separately.
3. Switch the router's frequency band: Some older routers or printers may be more sensitive to certain channels. Changing the 2.4GHz channel to 1, 6, or 11 is the most compatible option and can solve many problems.
6. Printer Wireless Module Stuck
Problem:
1. The printer's Wi-Fi function is turned off. This could be due to an inadvertent button press or incorrect settings.
2. Hardware Issue: The printer's internal wireless module is malfunctioning.
Solution:
1. Firstly, you need to check whether the wireless function is on. Please locate the Wi-Fi button on the printer, press it, and see if the Wi-Fi light turns on or flashes. If it doesn't, the wireless module may not be turned on.
Then you need to reset network settings. Please Press and hold the Wi-Fi button for 10–15 seconds until the power light starts flashing, then release it. This is a common method for restoring network settings. After resetting, you will need to reconnect to Wi-Fi.
2. Contact Customer Service: If the previous steps fail and you see a message such as "Wireless Off" or "Wireless Unavailable" on the printer status page, it may be a hardware problem. You will need to consult a professional for repair or contact the manufacturer's customer service.
7. Network Search Failure
Possible Causes:
1. Router Channel Interference: Excessive Wi-Fi signals are causing interference.
2. Printer system lag: The printer’s system may temporarily freeze or respond slowly, causing the network search process to get stuck.
3. Driver Error: There may be a problem with the driver installed on your computer. This may also cause a connection failure.
Solution:
1. Restart the Devices: Power off and restart your router and printer. This usually clears temporary issues.
2. Change the Wi-Fi Channel: Log in to your router's settings and manually change the 2.4GHz network channel to 1, 6, or 11. These channels have less interference, are more compatible, and are easier for the printer to find.
3. Try Using WPS:
Press the WPS button on your printer (usually marked with two arrows or labeled "WPS")
Then press the WPS button on your router within two minutes.
The printer will automatically connect to the router without requiring a password.
8. System or Driver Bugs
Problem:
1. The printer firmware or computer driver is outdated and no longer compatible with the system or router.
2. Security software is interfering. Sometimes, antivirus or firewall software can block normal printer communication.
Solution:
1. Update the printer firmware: Download the latest firmware update for your printer model from the official website, install it, and then re-establish the connection.
2. Disable firewall or antivirus software: Some security software may block the connection between the printer and computer. Temporarily disable them and test.
3. Use a mobile phone hotspot to troubleshoot network issues: Turn on your phone's hotspot (make sure it's 2.4GHz, not 5GHz) and connect the printer to it. If the connection is successful, there may be a problem with your home router. Consider restarting or adjusting the router settings.
9. IP Address Conflict
Problem:
At home, every device connected to Wi-Fi (phones, computers, printers, etc.) is assigned an IP address by the router.
Sometimes, the router assigns addresses incorrectly. For example, it assigns the same address to two devices. Or, due to address management errors, the printer isn't assigned an address.
In these cases, the printer may be unable to connect to the internet. It may get stuck, display a network error, or experience disconnections.
Solution:
1. Restart the printer and router: First, turn off the printer. Then, unplug the router and wait for at least 30 seconds. Plug it back in and wait for 2–3 minutes for it to fully boot up. Finally, turn on the printer. The router will then reassign an IP address.
2. Manually assign a fixed IP address to the printer: Log in to your router's backend settings. Look for options like "DHCP Reservation" or "Static IP Assignment." Assign the printer a unique IP address based on its MAC address. You can usually find the MAC address on the printer's network report or the printer's label.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why your Brother printer might not be connecting to Wi-Fi. In this blog post, I've listed nine possible causes. If you follow the troubleshooting steps above, most Wi-Fi connection issues can be resolved! If you still can't connect, you can print a network report and contact your printer's customer service.
